Eminent Domain Fight Continues On Dauphin Island

Empty fields and a few warning signs are all that's left of the Johnson's retirement home. Six months ago they moved out, today the house is just a few blocks away, but not theirs and up for sale.

“We're all for progress there are just some situations where the laws are being taken advantage of so they can come in and attain the process for whatever purpose,” says Diane Johnson. The Johnson's home and three others were seized under eminent domain--for a runway protection zone. This eminent domain case has allowed the Dauphin Island airport to remain open and fall within FAA safety rules, but it’s a small consolation to the families that have had to give up their homes.

“Just my opinion a lot of injustice going on with this situation,” says homeowner Gerald Graham. “They can't replace what I had; they don't want to replace what I had. The Graham's and the Johnson’s are taking the county to court over just compensation, both families say the county is offering them far less than what their waterfront property was worth.

“We're not asking for a million dollars, we're not asking for the moon and the stars, we're asking for just compensation,” says Michael Johnson. The Johnsons say they're trying to get eminent domain laws changed--saying if it can happen to them, it can happen to anyone. Calls to a county spokesman were not returned on Sunday.